Curtain Calls: World of drag epitomized in Center Rep’s show at Lesher Center
What do you do when you lose your job, the rent is overdue and your wife announces she’s pregnant? Such is the dilemma for Casey, an Elvis impersonator, in Center Rep’s “The Legend of Georgia McBride.”
Elvis has definitely left the building when Casey is fired from his gig despite his glittery costume and swaying hips. It seems the owner thinks a drag show will bring in more customers. Desperate to find a way to support his growing family, Casey steps into the world of drag, learning a lot about himself in the process.
“It’s exciting to see the show in Walnut Creek and exciting that they brought in local drag talent to execute it,” said Chris Steele, a drag consultant, choreographer and dramaturg. “I’ve wanted to work with director Elizabeth Carter for some time, and I’m grateful she brought me into the rehearsal process so early. I deeply admire, respect and have been inspired by her directing.”
Steele has a varied career as an actor, producer, adaptor of works and, now, curation director at Cutting Ball Theatre. She has been doing drag for five years and currently is running four different drag shows in San Francisco.
“As an actor myself, I have a pretty good idea what information is useful, actionable stuff for the cast,” Steele said. “Choreography is really important because the way drag performers structure their pieces and the way they move tells so much about the background and style of their drag.”
Steele said Carter helped set the tone with the songs she selected, trying to represent as many types and perspectives of drag as possible while still creating the burlesque atmosphere of the show.
“Drag can be live singing, dancing, lip-synching, punk rock or it can just be beauty,” Steele said. “It’s improv and one of the truest senses of clowning in the world.”
Although drag is an essential part of the show, Carter explained it also speaks to people from all walks of life.
“It gives you permission over your own life,” added Steele. “Something we can all relate to and, ideally, take something away with us.”
“The Legend of Georgia McBride” by Tony and Olivier award winner Matthew Lopez, runs Saturday-Nov. 26 at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive. Call 925-943-7469 or go to lesherartscenter.org.
Oakland: August Wilson’s powerful play, “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” opens the Lower Bottom Playaz season. Oakland’s oldest Black theater continues the show through Nov. 26 at BAM House Cultural Center, 1540 Broadway.
Set in a Pittsburgh boarding house in 1911, the play follows Herald Loomis, who searches for his wife and daughter after being separated from them and forced to work for Joe Turner for seven years.
While Turner doesn’t appear in the play, he is often referred to and was widely known as the brother of the governor of Tennessee who would kidnap Black men and force them into labor on his chain gang.
For more information on the show and company, go to lowerbottomplayaz.com.
Also in Oakland: The incredible vertical dance company Bandaloop celebrates its expanded West Oakland home base with a free community event Nov. 12 at its studios located on 1601 18th St.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the public can experience vertical joy in person, view performances by the company, take a dance class and much more. All activities are free of charge, but space is limited. Reserve your free tickets at bandaloop.org/openhouse.
More from Oakland: Congratulations to Rolanda D. Bell recently named as the RHE Foundation Artistic Fellowship winner. The Oakland-based stage and screen actor will receive a $10,000 fellowship to allow her to take the next step in her career.
“I follow our awardees’ careers for years afterwards,” said Executive Director of RHE Charitable Foundation Jennifer Sousae. “It’s deeply gratifying to see how much they’ve accomplished. Past awardees have appeared on Broadway and on LORT stages across the nation.”
Castro Valley: Chanticleers Theatre will hold auditions for David Henry Hwang’s “Yellow Face” Nov. 12 and 13 from 7-9 p.m. Actors should prepare a short comedic monologue, satire preferred. If unable to attend in person, actors can send an audition tape to moviemax81@gmail.com. Performances take place Feb. 2-25. Go to chanticleers.org for more information.
Danville and Orinda: Chromatica Chorale presents a special concert for Veterans’ Day weekend, “We Remember.” Subtitled “Choral Reflections on Love, Peace and the Hope to Come,” the concert takes place at Peace Lutheran Church, 3201 Camino Tassajara, Danville (Nov. 11 at 7 p.m.) and at Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church, 433 Moraga Way, Orinda (Nov. 12 at 3 p.m.)
The concert includes David Conte’s “Elegy for Matthew,” three pieces by Elaine Hagenberg and “In Flanders Fields,” a moving tribute to those who fought and died in the Great War based on John McCrae’s war poem.
For more information, go to chromaticachorale.org.
Reach Sally Hogarty at sallyhogarty@gmail.com, and read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.